DLF Grass Partners

Quality or quantity - that is the question

Grass trials were carried out at Newland Home Farm by kind permission of David and Chris Halhead. The farm supports a 160 cow herd that is housed and on a robotic milking system yielding 10,000 litres per cow. Grass destined for ensiling has been weighed and analysed over 2 seasons to observe the differences year on year. In both 2014 and 2015 the samples and weights were taken on exactly the same day to give a direct comparison. The results have presented some very thought provoking statistics and in light of today’s climate of tight margins silage producers need to ask themselves “do I forfeit quality in persuit of quantity?” The mixture sampled during 2014 and 2015 was VersaMax Meat and Milk. This mixture features 51% More Milk varieties which guarantee the genetic potential. The aim is now to harvest at the optimum time. The table illustrates the results of manual weighing and pre - cut sampling . The variation from year to year is staggering. What it says though is be aware of the season – sample and take action. If the sample shows this grass is ready do not wait because once the heading process begins the forage quality falls quickly and the energy is gone.

MEAT & MILK 2014

MEAT & MILK 2015

FLEXICROP 2015

1st Cut

2nd Cut

1st Cut

2nd Cut

1st Cut

2nd Cut

Fresh weight tonnes/acre

14.57

8.10

12.95

6.48

13.00

8.90

Dry Matter %

14.8

16.7

18.5

16.4

15.9

17.6

Total kg/DM

2160

1350

2396

1063

2059

1566

Me Mj/kg/DM

10.4

10.5

11.8

11.2

11.4

11.2

NDF

49.9

53.7

38.2

44.2

41.1

43.3

Total Mj/acre

22464

14175

28273

11906

23473

17539

Total energy produced 2 cuts

36639mj

40179mj

41012mj

VersaMax Flexicrop was drilled in autumn 2014. We did this to maintain the advantages of high DNDF cultivars (39% inclusion) and introduce the Advanced™ Hybrid Lofa. This was to introduce extra yield with no quality penalty (See Advanced Grasses™). Due to grazing early in 2015 the 1st cut was compromised but gave a good second cut to out-perform the VersaMax Meat and Milk which is excellent in its own right. More VersaMax Flexicrop was drilled autumn 2015